Single-lever eight-speed shift mechanism



Jung,l 24., 1930. b. c. KLAUSNIEYER ET AL 3,765,592

SINGLE LEVER EIGHT-SPEED SHIFT MECHANISM Filed Sept. 29, 1924 2Sheets-Shea?, 1

June 24, 1930.

D. C. KLAUSMEYER AL SINGLE LEVER EIGHT-SPEED SHIFT MECHANISM Filed Sept.29, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES PATIENTOFFICE DAVID C. KLAUSMEYER, OF CINCINNATI, AND HOWARD E. DARBYY", OFNORWOOD, OHIO, ASSIGNORS. TO THE CINCINNATI BICKFORD TOOL COMPANY, OFCINCINNATI, OHIO,

A CORPORATION OF OHIO SINGLE-LEVER EIGHT-SPEED SHIFT MECHANISMAppI'ication led September 29, 1924. Serial No. 740,498.

This invention relates to controlling devices for speed-changemechanisms such as 4are used, for example, in machine-tools wherein itis desirable that the speed of rotation of certain operating shafts bemade variable, v

A radial drill furnishes a good example of such a machine and thisyinvention will therefore be disclosed in connection with a portion ofsuch a machine-tool as representing one of the practical embodimentsofthe 1nvention. It is to be understood, however, that the inventionneither limitedv to radial drillsI specifically v`nor to machine-toolsgenerally but that it is likewise adaptable to any form of mechanismwherein it is desired selectively to rotate a driven shaft at any one ofa plurality of speeds by means of changer-gear mechanisms.

- In a radial-drill it is desirable that the drill-spindle and the drillcarried thereby be rotatedl at various speeds the rate of I which isdependent upon kthe size of the drill being used and the naturev of thework being operated on. As these changes of speed are required more orless frequently it is highly desirable lthat'the means for effectingthese lchanges be easy of manipulatien and located at a place convenientto the operator when stationed before his work otherwise, rather than goto a place remote from his work to make the required change, he islikely to use a speed which does not produce maximum etliciency andwhich is apt to injure the tool. f I

As commonly constructed radial drills are yprovided with two independentspeedchanging devices of which one known as the speed-box, is usuallylocated on the machine bas, at the foot of the column and the other,known as the back-gears, is located i n the drill-head. This inventionis particularly adaptable Vto an improved type of radial drill in whichall of the speed-change gears have been embodied in the drill-head andin the adjustment of which the operator is not required to leave hisposition before his work to effect any available spindle speed.

This invention therefore has for an object scribed, and to combinetherewith means,

to provide `an improved gear-shifting mechanism by means of which theoperator may, through the manipulation of a single con'- trollingelement, selectively mesh certain gears of a suitable speed-changemechanism thereby to effect an one of eight available speed changes. l

J Another object of the invention is tol provide a gear-shiftingmechanism as above deto apprehend the underlying features hereof thatthey may embody the same in the variousways contemplated vby this`invention, drawings depicting a preferred typical construction have beenannexed as a part of this disclosure and, in such drawings, likecharacters of reference denote corresponding partsthroughout all theviews, 'of which Fig. 1 lis a vertical section of a portion f of adrill-head embodying thepresent invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontalsection substantially on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical`-ysection substantially on the line 3-3 of,Fig. 2p. Fig. 4 is a verticalsection on thev line. 4--4 of Fig. 3, certain parts being omitted forthesake of clearness. .Figa 5 is adetail section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2showing the detent mechanism for preventing accidental shifting of thegears, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a locking element later to bereferred to.

' Referring more particularly to the drawings the invention is disclosedas embodied in a. radin drin-head 1 Within which is 1 splined to theshaft 14, which mesheswithy drill-spindle.

rotatably and translatably journaled the usual drill-spindle 2 adaptedto carry a drill-point or other conventional tool. Power to rotate thevspindle is introduced into the drill-head by a shaft 3 journaledlengthwise of a radial-arm upon which the drill-head is slidablymounted. Intermediate the shaft 3 and the spindle 2 are arranged threespeed-change devices, A, B, and C adapted to multiply a single speed inthe shaft 3 into thiity-two speeds in the spindle. The speed-changedevices'A and B afford eight speed-changes and correspond to the speedchanges usually provided by a suitable speed-box locatedadjacent a motoror other prime-mover remote from the drill-head. The speed-change deviceC affords means to quadruple the speeds delivered by the devices A andB. y Power is taken from the shaft 3 and delivered, by means of suitablebevel-gears, to a shaft 4rotatably journaled in bearings 5 and 6 in thedrill-head. Upon the shaft 4 is secured gear-units 7 and 8 providingdriving-gears 7a, 7b, and 8a, 8b respectively, adapted to be meshed withgears 9a, 91D and 10, 10b provided by two independently shiftablegear-units 9 and 10 splined upon a shaft 11. The gear-units 7, 8, 9 and10 form the iirst speed-change device A which multiplies a single speedin the shaft 3 into four speeds in the shaft 11.

The second speed-change device B comprises a gear-unit 12 fixed upon theshaft 11 and formed with gears 12a and 12b adapted to mesh respectivelywith gears 13"L and 13b provided by a shiftable gear-unit 13 splinedupon a shaft 14 journaled inlk the drill-head coaxial with the shaft 4.Thus through the gears 12a, 13a, and 12b, 13b the four speeds availablein the shaft 11 are doubled into eight speeds in the shaft 14.

The third speed-change device C or backgeai's as they are commonlycalled provides four additional speed-changes which multiplies thespeeds .available in the shaft 14 and produces thirty-two speeds in they Inasmuch as the back-gears and their:`V sshifting devices form no partof the present invention detailed illustration and description thereofis'deemed unnecessary. It will sufiice to say that this speedchangedevice comprises a gear-unit 15,

and drives a gear-unit 16 secured upon a yshaft 1 7 journaled in `thedrill-head. From the unit 16 and shaft 17 power is selectivelytransmitted 'to ay gear-unit 18 splined to the spindle-rotating sleevewithin which the spindle is splined' in the usual manner.V Y

As hereinbefore stated this invention rer lates primarily tocontrol'ling devices for speed-change mechanisms, suoli as are used inradial drill-heads.v A practical embodiment of the invention istherefore illustrated easy reach l lever 19 is in connection with thespeed-change devices A and B. The drill-head 1 carries, within of tlfeoperator, when stationed at his work, a speed controlling lever 19adapted to occupy any one of eight different positions and in moving toeach of these positions to effect the engagement of two of the gears inthe speed-change device A. This lever likewise effects the engagement ofthe gears 12a and 13a or 12b and 13h of the speed-change mechanism B tocomplete the drive from the shaft 4 to the shaft 14. The preferablyformed, at one end,

with a ball 2() which is maintained against lateral displacement bywalls 21 and 22 of a slot 23 formedv in a housing 24 carried by thedrill-head. The opposite end of the 1ever projects throughl a slotformed in the housing and is providedwith a hand-grasp 19X. Intermediateits ends the levers 19 is pivoted, 'at 25, to a shaft 26 rotatably and.translatably journaled in bearings a, b and c' sustained by thedrill-head. Fixed to the shaft 26, as by means of a pin 27, is a sleeve28 provided at one end with a gear-segment 29 and at the other end witha gear-segment 30. The segment 30 is adapted, in one eX- treme positionof the shaft to engage rackteeth 31 formed on a gearshifting slide 32and in another` extreme position of the shaft-A to engage teeth 33provided on a similar gear-shifting slide 34.A In an intermediateposition of the shaft 26 the segment 29 engages rack-teeth 35 providedby a member 36 fixed to a shaft 37 vertically movable in bearings 38 and39 in the drill-head. The member 32 is slidably mountedon a rod 40 andis provided with arms 41 and 42 adapted to engage the opposite sides ofthe gear-unit 10. Thus when the member 32 is moved lengthwise of therod, by means of the segy ment 30, as will later be described, it willcause translation ofthe gear-unit 10 land en- "gage either the gears 8aandflOa or 8b and 101.

To prevent rotation of the slide 32 on the n rod 40 it is 'preferablyJformed with a bifurcated arm 43 which embraces a lrod 44, upon which isslidably mounted the member 34. This member 34 is likewise provided witharms 45 and 46 which embrace the gear-unit 9 and cause its translationon the shaft 11 when the member is shifted by means of the segment 30engaging theracli-teeth 33 thereon. An arm 47, similar to the armf43 isformed integral with the slide 34 and embraces the rod 40 to hold theslide against rotation around the rod 44. The upper end of the shaft 37is provided with a fork 48 which embraces the gear-unit 13 intermediatethefgea-rs 13a and'13b. Thus when the ,shaft 37 is moved in onedirection by means of the segment 29 and the raclteetli35 the fork 48shifts the gear 13a into mesh with the gear 12a and when the shaft isshiftedin the opposite direction the fork causes engagement of the gears13b and 12b.

The shaft 26 may be rotated and translated selectively to effect any oneof the eight speeds available in the speed-change devices A and as willnow be described. The housing 24 is formed with two H-slots E and Fconnected together at their centers by a straight slot G. The H-slot Ecomprises parall'el slots a? and e and a cross-slot f and the H-slot Fcomprises similar parallel slots g and 7L and a cross-slot z'. The slotsd, e, g and t terminate inends all, d2, e1, e2, g1, g2 and h1, h2respectively, into which the lever 19 may be shifted to effect the eightspeeds provided by the speed-change devices A and B. `As shown in thedrawings, when the 1ever 19 is in the slot G the segment 29 is inengagement with the rack 35 fixed to the shaft 37 which carries thegear-shifting fork4 48, and the segment 30 is in its neutral positionbetween the racks 31 and 33 and the gear-units 9 and 10 are out ofengagement with tne gear-units 7 and 8. Therefore movement of the leverthrough the slot G Will cause only transl'ation of the gear-unit 13 andwill mesh either gears 12a and 13a or 12b and 13b dependent upon thedirection of movement from the neutral position. In this movement of thelever the ball 20 slides idly between the walls 21 and 22 and the leverdoes not effect endwise movement of the shaft 26. When the lever 19 ismoved transversely through the slots f and i the ball 20, held betweenthe walls 21 and 22, forms a fulcrum for the lever and the shaft 26 willbe moved endwise and will cause the segment 30 to engage either the rack31 or the rack 33 dependent upon the direction of movement of the lever.The housing may be provided adjacent the ends of the slots d. e, g andit, with suitable indicia to indicate the speed of rotation attained ineach position of the lever 19.

Considering now that the parts are in the positions shown in Figs. 1, 2and 4, that is with the gears in their neutral positions and the leverin the center of the slot G and supposing that the operator desires toeffect a certain speed of rotation in the shaft 14; by consulting theindicia he will find the position to which the lever must be moved togive. the desired speed. Let it be supposed that the desired speed isrepresented by II in Fig. 1, that is atthe end 7b2 of the slot h. Theoperator will first swing the lever counter-clockwise (as viewed in thedirection of the arrow s Fig. 1) through the slot G until it enters thecross-slot z'. This movementwill cause the segment 29 to shift the rack35 upwardly which in turn will mesh the gear 13b with the gear 121. Hewill then swing the lever toward the drillhead, that is in the directionof the arrow t, whichv movement will move the shaft 26 endwise,disengaging the segment 29 from the rack 35 and engaging the segment 3()with the rack 31. A further counter-clockwise movement of the lever intothe end h2 of the slot It will again rotate the shaft 26 and the segment30 will shift the rack 31, and its gear-shifting arms 41 and 42,upwardly which will shift the gear 10b into engagement with the gear 8b,thus completing the driving connection. Obviously all of the 'otherseven speeds may be obtained in a similar manner, the speed obtainedbeing determined by the position of the lever 19.

A novel locking device is also provided to positively hold thegear-Shifters and the gears actuated thereby in their adjusted positionswhen they are disengaged from the segments 29 and 30. This devicecomprises a .yoke 50 loosely supported by the shaft 26 and havingportions 51 and 52 which engage opposite ends of the sleeve 28. By thisengagement the yoke will be moved axially with'the shaft and sleeve 28.This yoke is formed with arms 53, 54, 55 and 56, each provided at itsfree end with a single tooth 53, 54', 55 and 56 respectively. The teeth53 and 54 are located at opposite sides of the segment 29 and the teeth55 and 56 are likewise located at opposite sides of the segment 30.Therefore whenever the sleeve is moved lengthwise to disengage thesegment 29 from the rack 35 or the segment 3() from either of the racks31 or 33, one of the teeth 53', 54, 55 or 56 will be moved into`thedisengaged rack and will hold the gear-Shifters y against accidentalmovement. The yoke is provided at one side with spaced walls 57 and 58which receive between them a square pin 59 lixed `to a stationary partof the drill-head, thus the yoke is held against rotation about theshaft 26 and the teeth 53', 54', 55 and 56Vl are always maintained inposition to mesh with the teethof the rackbars.

-The racks 31 and 33 are provided at their opposite ends with wide teeth31a, 31b and 33a and 33b respectively which project beyond the otherteethv of the racks and which, in the movement of the slides 32 and 34are adapted to Contact with the teethy 55 or 56 thereby to limit themovement of the gear- Shifters to insure proper meshing ofthe gears 7a,7b, 8a, 8* with the gears 9a, 9b, 10a and .10b respectively. Upwardmovement ofthe gearunit 13 is limited by a pin 57 carried bythel shaft37 and adapted to engage the underside positions of adjustment of thelever 19 about the axis of the shaft'26 e. g. d1, d2, g1 and g2 it beingunderstood that the positions at el, e2, h1 and 7b2 are the same, asregards the rotative position of the shaft. The detent 65 thereforeengages the notches in the sector 60 and prevents accidental movement ofthe shaft 26 and of the gear-shifter when in engagement with either thesegment 29 or 30.

Withouty further anal sis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gistof this invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various utilizations by retaining one or more ofthe features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairlyconstitute essential characteristics of either the generic or specificaspects of this invention and, therefore,'such adaptations should be,and are intended to be, comprehended within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the following claims.

Having this revealed this invention, we claim as new and desire tosecure the following combinations and elements, or equivalents thereof,by Letters Patent of the United States l. In combination withspeed-change mechanism,.including two independent serially arranged setso f speed-change gears comprising three fixed gear-units and threeshiftable gear-units, each shiftable gearunit having two operativepositions to produce two speed-changes, a gear shifter operativelyconnected with each shiftable gearu'nit; a rotatable and translatableshaft; a single member carried by said shaft and adapted to engage oneof said gear-Shifters in each three axial positions of said shaft; alever pivoted to said shaft and fulcrumed on one side thereof; and aguide controlling the action of said lever and permitting it to beshifted lengthwise of said shaft to a mean position and t0 two extremepositions, and transversely of said shaft to two effective positions insaid mean position and to four effective positions in each of saidextreme positions; said lever, in its transverse movements, actingthrough said shaft and vgear shifter to shift said gears therebyselectively to produce eight speed changes.

2. In combination, two serially arranged speed-change ymechanism eachincluding relatively shiftable` gears; means y'for selec- 5 vtivelymeshing the gears of each speedrchange mechanlsmyfsaid means including alshaft rotatablev and translatable axially to three positions;anoperative connection bef tween said's'haft andf'a shiftablel gearofone of said speed-change-mechanisms in each of `its extreme axialpositions; an operativev connection betweenl said yshaft and av shift-"jable gear ofthe other `speed-change mechanismin its meanposition;"asingle .lever having la neutralposition and a plurality of operativepositions;said-lever vbeing* pivoted to said shaft and adapted to shiftit axially to its three positions of adjustment and in each position torotate it, selectively to mesh the gears of one of said speed changemechanisms; and means controlling the movement of said lever from itsneutral 'position to insure the actuation of said speed change mechanismin a predetermined order.

3. ln combination, speed-change mechanism comprising first and secondindependent and serially arranged change-gear sets, includingrespectively two and one shiftable gear-units andcomplimental`non-shiftable gear-units; a' gear-shifting mechanismcomprising a plurality of gear-shifting members; a lever adapted to begiven four operative movements in two extreme positions and twooperative movements in one mean position; operative connection betweensaid lever and said gear shifting members; means actuated by said leverwhen it is moved through its mean position to shift into mesh the gearson said second change-gear set; means to engage said lever with anotherof said gear-shifting members when said lever is moved out of its meanposition; and means permitting said lever to be actuated to shift theshiftable gear-unit of said first gear set without disturbing the driveeffected in the second gear set thereby effecting a drive through bothof said gear sets.

4. A gear-,shifting mechanism comprising a lever having a neutralposition; a plurality of gear-shifting members 4adapted to be actuatedby said lever; a shaft operatively connected with said lever; means forseparately effecting operative connections between said shaft and saidgear-shifting members; means to'permit said lever to be moved onlyrotatively about the axis of the shaft from its neutral position; meansfor effecting translation of one gear-unit during said movement; meanspermitting said lever to be moved in either of two directions trans'-Verse to its first movement to move said shaft bodily to effect anoperative connection ,between said shaft and one of said gearshiftingmembers; and means permitting said lever then to be swung about the axisof the shaft in either of two directions selectively to shift one ofsaid gear-shifting members in either of two directions.V

5. A gear shifting device for speed change mechanisms including at leastthree shiftable gear-units and three nonshiftable gear-V units; ashifting member connected with each of said shiftable gear-units, two ofsaid shifting-members being arranged adjacent cach other and the thirdshifting member being arranged remote therefrom; arack onl each of saidshifting members; a single shiftable controlling element provided with afirst lgear-segment adjacent the remote shifting member and a secondgear segment between said two yadjacent shifting j' memmeaaea y ySlibers, `said gear segments and racks being so constructed and arrangedthat only one of said shifting Ymembers may 'be engaged by saidcontrolling element at a time; and a locking element having ortionsengaging the racks on the two shi 'ting members not engaged by thecontrolling element for positively holding those members againstmovement. f

6. ln combination With a speed-change device including a shiftable gearand a nonshiftable gear; a gear-shifter operatively y connected Withsaid shiftable gear and pro' vided with rack-teeth otwhich the end teethare relatively Wide and the intermediate teeth are relatively narrow; agear-segment; a movable'stop; means to move said gearsegment in onedirection to e'ect its engagement With said narrovv Arack-testh andsimultaneously therewith to move said stop into the path of movement ofsaid vvide y teeth; and means to move said gear-segment in a directiontransverse to its iirst named f movement to cause it to translate saidgearslot connecting said lid-slots through which a extends, said slotsproviding eight operative l positions for said lever; and gear-shiftingmeans operatively connected with said lever. lin Witness whereof, Wehave hereunto subscribed our names.

lDlVilD C. KLAUSMEYER. HOWARD lll, BARRY,

shifter, said stop being adapted to engage Y one of said relatively-vvide teeth to limit the movement of said gear-shifter.,

7. A gear-shifting mechanismcombinin a plurality of gear-shiftingelements eacY operatively connected with a shiftable gear;

an actuating member for' said elements;

means to shift said member bodil to cause it to engage one of saidgear-shifting elements; a positive locking device actuated by themovement of said member to engage the shifting elements not engaged bysaid mem-y ber; means to rotate said member to cause it to actuate thegear-shifting element enp gaged thereby; and a yielding detent means forholding said member in all of itspof sitions of rotation, A

8. A gear-shifting mechanism combining a plurality of parallel rods;` aear-'shifter slidably mounted upon each ot said rods and each provided`vvith a rack; an actuating shaft; a member secured to said shaft y andprovided with a gear-segment; means a for shifting said shaft axially tocause said segment to engage one of said racks; a yoke loosely journaledon said shaft and movable e axially with said shaft, said yoke beingprovided at opposite sides of said segment with locking teeth iorV saidracks; means to r0 tate said segment to shift the engaged gear-1shiiter; and-means to prevent rotary movei ment of said locking device.

9. In combination with two independent speed-change devices vforproducing at least eight speeds, each device includingl a shiftablegear; a gear-shifting mechanism comprising a plurality of gear-Shifterseach connected with one of said shiftable gears; a single actuatingmember 'for said gearshifters; a lever or moving said member; and ahousingi having two H-slots and a ico l ynoy

